Which actors/actresses do you believe are the most versatile?
By this I mean what actresses/actors do you think are able to play very different roles in different movies? There are many great actors/actresses out there, yet many of them usually stick to a similar character style, for example adam sandler being a funny guy or angelina jolie being a tough women. The only actress I can think of as of the moment is Meryl Streep because she has been able to play roles such as a harsh boss in Devil Wears Prada to a good hearted cook in Julia and Julia, and it was convincing.
Some actress/actors have tried this and failed such as vince vaughn in Psycho. Although it was a good effort, it was very challenging to take the movie seriously when all you can think about it how hes been a comedian in every role and is now trying to be serious.
So with that said, which actresses/actors do you believe have been able to pull off playing a role that they usually play to a role they usually don’t play?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
29 Answers
Jodie Foster does a good job at about whatever roles she decides to take.
There’s a Canadian born actor by the name of Maury Chaykin who was extremely versatile. Not too well known, but if you’ve seen his picture, you will recognize him from many movies. From a bullying pool player in “The Bedroom Window” to Major Fambrough in “Dances With Wolves”, Chaykin played many kinds of characters. He passed away just last week, coincidentally.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maury_Chaykin
Yes, Streep and Denzel Washington.
Keanu Reeves, because for Aeons has he lived, and he lost more than man can remember.
I think Leo does well in the different roles. Titanic and Inception are very different, but I applauded his performance in both. :)
Sandra Bullock I think does a nice job, too. I liked both Miss Congeniality and The Blindside.
Kevin Kostner has had different kinds of roles, but not too drastically different. I agree with Denzel Washington, too.
I might think of more later. :]
Nicole Kidman proved herself extremely versatile with her role of Virginia Wolfe in The Hours. Sean Penn did the same in I Am Sam.
Sissy Spacek has tackled some diverse roles over the years. Coal Miners Daughter and Beyond the Call are very different roles.
Good answers! I also think Johnny Depp has played in a lot of different roles
i’m going to cast my vote for my two lovely ladies Julianne Moore and Susan Sarandon
Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr, Dustin Hoffman, Ben Kingsley.
In addition to many above: Alan Rickman, Peter Sellers, Christian Bale
Agree with many of the above and add Cate Blanchett and George Clooney to the list.
Johnny Depp and Meryl Streep
And idiot liberal blowhard.
Did you ever see the movie where John Wayne plays the tortured, sexually abused, homosexual poet fighting to liberate the poor and the down trodden?
Martin Sheen
@MeinKampf you probably think John Wayne is versatile because he was able to portray a macho gun toting swaggering imbecile cowboy and a macho gun toting swaggering imbecile soldier. lol
Gary f’ing Oldman
(Note: To me chameleon, range, believability, and likability are distinct attributes.)
Daniel Day-Lewis is the only other real contender for the chameleon crown IMO.
Helena Bonham Carter is a young female Oldman. Brilliant!
Robert Downey Jr. has excellent chameleon chops.
Jim Carrey’s sheer magnitude is astounding. Neurological genius. I have no doubt he will go insane one day. (He and Mork are in their own category/dimension really. Ohhhh to see a movie with them going toe to toe. Peter Sellers is in that elite category as well.)
I saw Johnny Depp one time on Letterman, who was momentarily speechless towards his guest, and said Depp was simply “The coolest person he had ever met.” – and meant it. That rang very true. He is a cool cat. Classy. I would want to be Johnny Depp over the rest.
Wait – Jim Carrey has Jenny McCarthy, and likes Heavy Metal. Yeah, I’ll go with that!
@MRSHINYSHOES – Maury Chaykin is AWESOME. Nice call there! He is one of my favorite character actors.
@ipso Wow, it’s great you know who he is, because I think most movie goers don’t know——they’ve only seen his face in various movies.
The first time I saw Maury Chaykin was in the 1987 movie The Bedroom Window with Steve Guttenberg and Elizabeth McGovern. He played a pool player who tries to sexually goad Elizabeth McGovern’s character. Have you seen this movie?
Yes, Daniel Day-Lewis is outstanding.
Also a new personal favorite. Joseph Gordon Levitt.
As soon as i read the tital i thought of Meryl Streep…so yea…i think her.
Answer this question 
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Composing members:
0
